Elizabeth Romero: Phantom Director

This is not rational. The plant on the floor

Flips its little green hands at me

As if to say Why

Can’t you take these things calmly as others do?

Why must every circumstance be a setting for your panic

Your voracious fear?

What a bandied about word love is but what other word for the way

Your voice

reaches inside me as though it were my own?

I see you repairing a watch,

Turning it this way and that to discover its secrets,

break its resistance

and I long to be in your hands like that

under your calm and practical gaze.

When our coffee date is over

And it’s time to walk away

I try to be sophisticated, debonair and cool.

But I am none of these, I am acting. I play the part

Of a casual acquaintance who

Having said what there is to be said smiles

Kisses you and walks way.

Perhaps my kiss betrays me

And somewhere a phantom director irately declares

No, no. Don’t cling like that

Anyone would think you’re in love.

Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Romero